Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-26
RURAL MEXICO.
A JAUNT MO THE STATE OF
JALISC0.
The Queer Old City of Zapotian, and
the Uncomfortable Procliyities of
the Zapotlanians-Etc.
special Encompasses Correspondence


Especial REcoRD-UNIoS Correspondence
MEXICO, March Is, 1887.
We have been improving the pleasant
weather, before the annual season of rain
begins, by making several trips into the
terra calieute-the chief incentive being to
study the contrast (than which none can
be greater), between rural living in our
own country and this. One of these jour
news took US away down into the southern
State of Jalisco, to the ancient city of Ia
potlan, which on the latest official maps
now figures as La Cuidad Guzman.
1t hardly seems possible that this strange
pueblo and its people can belong to the
American continent. and that it lies less
than four thousand miles from Sacra-
mento The town is one of the Oldest in
Mexico, having been settled by the Span
iards soon after the conquest 1t has a
population of 10000, and being at an alti-
tude of nearly five thousand feet, the
climate is absolutely perfect. Surely, if
Paradise is to be located ultimately on this
terrestrial sphere, as many believe, it will
be in such a zone as thiS-whether in
Mexico, Central America, the West Indies,
the Himalayas-half way up tropic
mountain, where the skies are always blue
and the year an endless June. But before
this land of the Zapotlanians can become
an orthodox heaven, the present popula
ton viii have to be disposed of. The region
is considered one of the most dangerous in
Mexico, many of the natives being adj
dicted to
PRIVATE BRIGANDAGE;
And whenever one of the frequent politi-
cal revolts gives them opportunity, they
rally forth en- masse on an expedition of
plumber, in the name of liberty and with
the exigencies of war as an excuse. The
priesthood still retains more powerful
hold here than elsewhere in Mexico, but
they cannot be very severe in their deal
ings with criminals, since the confessional
must make them acquainted with numer-
GUS robberies and murders. Heretics assert
that some of the priests themselves are in
cahoots with the brigands but however
that may be, upon the wall or door OF
every house in the most notorious quarters
is pasted a small pink placard setting forth
the fact in Spanish print that the residents
thereof are under the especial protection of
patron Saint.
EAll the roadsides leading 10 Zapotlan are
lined with wooden crosses, each rude
memorial surrounded by its heap of stones,
every pebble denohng prayer, thus prov
ing that the pious creatures who assist the
unwary traveller to sudden exit from this
vale of tears, are yet obliging enough to do
all in their power to rescue his unshriven
soul from purgatory.
1t is an old Spanish proverb: The pic
ture of battle is best seen at distance;
and beyond doubt the existence of so many
highwaymen is mainly due to the fact
that their demands are seldom resisted.
The sight of a masked brigand, canter-
ing up with cooked revolver and the
usual command, cara en- terra rs put your
face to the ground ", is liable to SO reduce
the courage of the bravest man that he
prostrates himself without loss of time,
and submits tamely to any indignity. Yet
in ninety-nine cases out of hundred
hardy resistance would be infinitely better,
and if travellers would show a proper de-
gree of spirit brigandage would soon die
out, for with all their buster these people
are arrant towards. Generally no further
i'll treatment is offered by the rascally
knights of the road than robbery; but
there have been instances, not a few, where
not only the victims baggage, arms and
money have been appropriated, but all his
clothes as well, and he was compelled to
resume his journey airily
ALTERED IN A NEWSPAPER.
To this day it is best to travel in these
parts with considerable escort and without
much of value to tempt cupidity. Yet one
must be sure to have few dollars about
him, for if so unwise as to be caught
wholly without coin, he is certain to be
terribly beaten, if not killed, for his i'm
pertinence in thus disappointing the gen.
tlemen of the highway.
But they are muy simpdt'ca VERY SYM
pathetic) in Zapotlan, and when hearing of
a way side murder never fail to remark,
" Pobracit0i Que desgrdcfa :" (''Poor fell
low, what mishapr')
The monotonous streets Of the town are
narrow, straight and stony; the low walls
of crumbling adobe overgrown with vines
and green with litchens, and the windows
all without glass-protected by heavy
wooden bars. Its central plaza is rendered
picturesque by groups of fine cocoa-palms,
whose feathering tops, however, afford no
shade in the glaring sunshine; and its
adobe benches, scattered about in the hot
sand, are not inviting, being overrun with
scorpions, centipedes and lizards.
fine cathedral, which was destroyed by an
earthquake nearly eighty years ago, and no
attempt has ever been made to restore or
remove it.
Zapotlan is chiefly noted for its several
soap-factories-a rare industry IN Mexico
and the manufacture of pntque and mescdt
in its neighboring maguey haciendas.
Much sugar, molasses and dgttdrdiente de
caaa-sugar- cane rum-are also made in
the vicinity. The exceedingly fertile soil
of this section is only partially titled, and
that by the most primitive methods, prob
ably owing as much to natural laziness as
to insecurity of life and property and lack
of transportation for produce. In this por-
ton of Mexico the fayorite pastime and
only dissipation is
cocK-FIGHTING-
Which appears to be more alluring than
bull-fighting, as it affords wider scope for
betting-but even this advertisement is
only INDUCED in on Sundays and Feasts
of Obligation. Strange to say, though
Mexican ladies are liberal patrons of the
plaza de toTroS, or bull-fghting arena, and
once graced every cockpit by their presence
and best clothes, they no longer attend the
latter Therefore, since it would never do
for Betsy and to fly in the face of estab-
lished cos:,nbre, however actuated by the
sternest sense of journalistic duty, cannot
give you an account first hand, of the per-
formances therein. But the cockpit as
one of the established institutions OF the
country mnst by no means by overlooked
or Stunned, and we visited it by proxy, so
to speak, through the gentlemen of our
party, whose they assured us-went as
IL